Leinster Football Association Junior Cup (Round 3)
Clonmullion FC 2 Gorey Rangers FC 1 (AET)
Clonmullion welcomed top Wexford side and last year’s FAI Junior Cup finalists Gorey Rangers to Micheál O Neill Park in this LFA Junior Cup third round fixture. On a dry but blustery day both teams played some great football from the very beginning but clear chances were at a premium. Indeed it wasn't until the fourteenth minute that either keeper had a meaningful save to make when Luke Green passed to Gavin O Brien who stung the palms of Michael Lawless's from twenty yards out. Five minutes later Keane Cully put Jodie Dillon away down the right hand side and he fired in a great cross towards Ceilum Maher at the back post but Glen O Brien got back just in time to head away from the danger area. A few minutes later Cody Mulhall slipped a lovely pass in between the central midfielders to Maher who took the ball beautifully before dancing past Nathan Curran and Kieran Murray but shot straight at keeper Cian Browne who batted the ball away for a corner. With twenty five minutes on the clock Green spread the ball out wide to the pacy full back Curran who left two Clonmullion player's in his wake and his lowly driven effort was brilliantly saved by the feet of Lawless. Despite playing against a gale force wind the home side had the majority of the possession and when Jake Nicholl intercepted the ball in the centre circle and advanced to the edge of the eighteen yard area before unleashing a powerful effort which barely went over the bar with the keeper rooted to his line. With ten minutes remaining in the first half Mulhall slipped a great ball down the right wing to Maher who pulled the ball back into the path of Dillon but Conor Casserly just about got across to deflect his shot out for a corner. The final few minutes of the half saw both teams retaining possession for prolonged periods without threatening either goal.
The second half started with the home side still on the front foot and Garry Comerford strode out from the back and played a lovely ball to Mulhall who fired a wicked shot at keeper Browne who parried the effort into the path of the in rushing Maher but the ball came at him so quickly he could only glance it over the bar from close range. A few minutes later the elegant Mark Hughes powered out of defence gliding past two Rangers midfielders before laying the ball off to Dillon who flicked on to Mulhall who’s effort was blocked down by Curran but it fell to Chris Chanders who hit the target but Browne was equal to the strike. On fifty five minutes Hughes was again involved as he played the ball to Chanders who whipped in the ball from the right for Dillon to tap home only for the linesman to flag for offside. The breakthrough came on the hour mark when Cully picked out Nathan Robinson from a throw in and the skipper played a superb ball to Mulhall who checked inside leaving full back O Brien on the ground before bending the ball around centre half Casserly into the bottom corner to put the Mull ahead.
Gorey almost drew level five minutes later after Curran again raided down the right and crossed to Murray who’s clever back heel surprised everyone except the ever alert Lawless who pulled off an unbelievable save to keep his side ahead. With twenty minutes remaining full back O Brien advanced down the left before crossing to Murray who’s first time effort took a wicked deflection and squirmed under the wrong footed Lawless to make it a draw game. Buoyed on by this the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game and a quick throw by Curran to Green seen the midfielder hit a sharp half volley from the edge of the box but Lawless saved comfortably. Clonmullion were to have the last chance of the regular time when Cully overlapped down the right and clipped in a lovely cross which Chanders headed goalwards but Casserly cleared off the line with the keeper beaten. Extra time beckoned.
Three minutes into the first half of extra time Lawless was called into action after Ethan Vickers swung in a great corner which was partially cleared by Lee Day but the ball fell to Murray who shot from close quarters but the keeper was equal to it in what was the only clear chance of the half.
Benny Lawlor and Lee Doyle were introduced at half time in extra time to add fresh legs to the attack and kept both Gorey full backs occupied. With five minutes remaining Cully again raided down the right wing and fed the ball inside to Chanders who pulled the ball back to Maher but his first time effort was well blocked by Casserly. With a minute remaining in extra time Chanders got on the end of a Lawless kick out heading the ball onto the pacy Lawlor who was hauled down inside the box by Curran and the referee pointed to the spot. Chanders stepped up and although Browne saved the spot kick it rebounded into the path of Chanders who made no mistake at the second time of asking to put his side into the hat for the fourth round draw.
In what was a superb team effort it would be impossible to pick out any player as a man of the match. But it is a game and a result that will live long in the memories of the large crowd that were there to witness it.
Also in LFA Round 3 Action !
Stoneyford FC 0 Clane United FC 2
A depleted Clane United FC travelled to Kilkenny and managed to come away with a comfortable 2-0 victory to put them through to round 4 of the LFA Junior Cup, through a Dean Comiskey brace . Clane dominating possession but didn’t creating any clear-cut chances. They did open their account on the twentieth minute when Gavin O Dwyer found Comiskey on the leff as he jinked inside beating three defenders and curled the ball into the top corner to leave the Kildare side 1-0 at half time.
The visitors came out with more intensity in the second half and created more chances and should really have put the game to bed with Ross Murphy Scott Britton Liam Deane and Comiskey all going close . The second goal arrived on the hour mark as Comiskey was taken down inside the area and dusted himself off to take the spot kick to double their advantage. Best for the winners were Stephen Leavy Ross Murphy Dean Comiskey.
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